Josephine -asten



`(No Model.)

SKIRT BLBVATOR. No. 478,076. Patented July 5, 1892.

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" UNITED STATES 'VPA-TENT FFICE.

JOSEPHINE ASTEN, OF VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLMBIA.

SKIRT-ELEVATO R.

, SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent'No. 478,076, dat-ed July 5, 1892. p Application tiled May 17, 1892. Serial No. 43 3,353. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JosErHINE AsrEN, a citizen of the United States, residing` at Washington, in the District of Columbia, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Dress-Skirt Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

p `Various contrivances for elevating dressskirts have heretofore been proposed; but they are not generally used, since objections reside in all, particularly owing to their expensive construction or their inconvenience of manipulation, the annoyance of adjusting them to raise a skirt more or less, and the difficulty of placing them under perfect control and of operating them without awkward movements on the part of the user.

The ordinary chains, tapes, or strings are objectionable and unsatisfactory in that it is inconvenient to dispose of that portion thereof remaining inthe hand afterportions have been taken up to raise a dress-skirt, and a -piece of ordinary elastic webbing would not present a desirable appearance, besides being inconvenient tomanipulate. `A skirt-elevator which avoids these objections, possesses simplicity of construction, is economical, ornamental, and always under control of the user` and which will yield lengthwise and be susceptible of convenient and quick manipula-- tion at all times to instantly raise or lower the dress-skirt without interfering with the free use of either hand for other purposes while walking, running, or dancing is a desirable and useful article which will recommend itself and be appreciated by all women. This I accomplish by my invention, which consists in the features of construction and combination or arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made tothe accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a view illustrating my invention applied to a ladyAs skirt. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the improved skirt-elevator, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

The improved skirt-elevator comprises an elastic member l and an inelastic member 2, which incloses the elastic member to conceal, cover, and protect the same, while permitting it to expand and contract lengthwise. The

elastic member is composed of a strip of ordinary elastic webbing, and the inelastic member is composed of a strip of textile material folded centrally between its ends and stitched along the edges to form a tubular sheath or casing, which incloses the elastic webbing continuously throughout its length. The 'sheath is formed throughout `its length with numerous transverse ruftles, flutes, or crimps 3 in such manner that,while the sheath is inelastic, it can be extended lengthwise to accommodate the lengthwise expansion of the elastic webbing.

The webbing is provided `at one end with a loop 4, which engages a finger-ring 5, of any material suitable for the'conditions required. The opposite end of the webbing is provided with a loop C, which engages a safety-pin 7, lying between the free-folded extremities 8 of the tubular sheath or inelastic strip. The safety-pin is adapted to be attached to adressskirt, and the linger-ring is v adapted to be placed -on one of the fingers of the wearers hand for the purpose of supporting the dressskirt in an elevated position, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 3. When the article is in use, it will expand or contract as the hand is raised or lowered and the skirt, when heavy, will benicely balanced.

The linger-ring at one end of the elastic webbing is a very desirable feature in that it can be placed on one finger, preferably the small or little finger, and thus enable the skirt to be conveniently and quickly raised, lowered, or adj usted without"materially interfering with the free use of the hand for other purposes.

The rufiled,iil1ted, or crimped construction of the textile tubular sheath or inelastic strip ornaments the article, imparts a handsome and distinguishing appearance thereto, and fulfills the conditions required to cover, conceal,and protect the elastic web or strip continuously throughout its length, and prevents the latter from chafin g or otherwise damaging the dress-skirt.

The tubular sheath or. 'inelastic strip may be composed of silk, satin, or any other textile material, and its color may be largely varied to suit the conditions required or the color or n shade of the dress-patterr'l.

In dancing and running the elastic nature of the dress-elevator is advantageous in that IOO it is rendered susceptible of yielding lengthwise to accommodate the movements ot' the body and of the skirt, and the same is true in a measure in Walking.

It the dress-skirt while held in a raised position, as in Fig. 3, should meet any obstructions, the elevator will yield lengthwise, and thus avoid tearing or damaging the dressskirt, in which respect myinvention possesses utility and is practicable and satisfactory in use.

The construction of the skirt-elevator renders it capable of being made comparatively short, as it will contract and expand to permit free -movement of the hands and arms without being an incumbrance, and the skirt can be instantly raised-or lowered by a simplemo'velnent of one hand,in which respects the improved"l article is superior and more satisfactory and eicient than ordinary devices for' this purpose.

The tree extremities 8 of the sheath constitute tlaps,which serve to cover and conceal the safety-pin by which theskirtelevator is attached to the d tess-skirt, and one ot' these flaps retains the safety-pin from direct contact with the dress-skirt.

I have illustrated an ordinary safety-pin as theA fastening .device by which to detachably connect they skirt-elevator with a dress-skirt, as this fastening` is simple, efficient, economical, and quickly manipulated; but I 'do not Wish to be understoo'das confining myself to any particular-'fastening for this purpose, as

vario-us other devices can be employed'.

The improved skirt-elevator is simple in construction and can be economically manufactured,while it presents a very ornamental appearance and is always under control of the user through the medium of a finger-ring 'engaging one of the fingers. This feature p adapts the article to be quickly manipulated i for raising, lowering, or adgustlng the dressskirt, as occasion may demand, while leaving ,i the hands tree to be used for any desired purpose.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A dress-skirt elevator consisting of an l elastic web having at one end a finger-engaging ring and at the opposite end a skirt-engaging device and a tubular sheath formed with transverse rutlles or flutes andv inclosing E the elastic web continuously throughout -its length betWee-n the finger-engaging ringand the skirt-engaging device, substantially as dev scribed. v' l v Y 2. A dress-skirt elevator consisting ot' an elastic web having at one end a finger-engaging vring and at the opposite end a skirt-engaging device and a iluted sheath inc'losi'ng the web and having at one end a pair of flaps arranged, respectively, at opposite sides ot' the skirtengaging device, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed 'my seal in presence Aof two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPHINE ASTEN. Witnesses:

ALBERT Hf.- NoRRIs, J AMES A. RUTHERFORD. 

